Car Seats and Stuff

Derek is 8 years old, nearly 9 and still in a car seat. He's not thrilled about it, but that's just the way it is.
Dominic and I follow the rules. The rules are for safety. When it comes to our kids there is no question.
But more than that.
A few years back we witnessed a horrific accident on the freeway. Seven cars in all. A young man thrown from the vehicle died laying on the interstate. A nine week old baby died because she was not properly secured in her car seat. Dominic saw that I was with a passenger with a broken leg.
I will never forget the smells, the sounds, the sight of it all. It took me months to be able to even drive thru that area of freeway.

Joseph is a disabled child. We are lucky he does not require wheel chairs or walkers. One little girl who has therapy with us was in a car that was hit from behind, she was not strapped in or wearing a seat belt she has life long spinal cord damage. She didn't like wearing seat belts... She hates her wheel chair.
We see kids complain about therapy and braces, walkers and botox treatments. I tell Derek and Joseph that a seat belt is better than a walker. Being embarrassed about a booster seat is not as bad as a wheelchair is it?

We aren't perfect parents. But when they beg for the front seat or no seat belt even if it's a short ride I say no. It's my job. My responsibility to take care of them.
Helmets must be worn on bikes ALWAYS.
Please don't let a freak accident make you wish you had made them wear it. You'll never forgive yourself.
Sorry if I am gruff to your child if the helmet is hanging from the handle bar or gruff with you if you say "it doesn't fit her any more" you can buy a latte but you can't buy a new helmet?
Our car has been hit twice in a freaky way. Thank God we were all strapped in. Derek remembers it. A friend of ours little girl was hit while on her bike. He remembers that. He doesn't fight me on these rules, he knows he wont win. But sadly he knows why.